AN APPEAL has been launched after a spate of animal killings along a canal.

Police are urging members of the public to help with their investigation after numerous incidents of wildlife being shot with an air rifle around the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal in Radcliffe.

A cat, a swan, and a fox are among the animals that have been found dead in the past month along Banana Walk.

PCSO Tracey Kyle said: "We have now had numerous reports of someone going around with an air rifle shooting the wildlife along the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal, in the Water Street and Banana Walk area of Radcliffe.

"The first incident was reported to us on December 7 and it has continued in the weeks since then.

"It looks like they are shooting anything that moves.

"The animals that have been killed include five mallards, around a dozen pigeons, a swan, a cat, a fox, and a number of moor hens.

"We are appealing for anyone with information about these incidents to report it to Whitefield Police Station.

"Members of the public need to keep their eyes open along that stretch of the canal."

Many of the dead animals have been discovered by local anglers and volunteer bailiffs, who support the police and the Environment Agency in preventing poaching and other offences on the waterway.

Eric Owen, chairman of the Little Britain Anglers group, said: "About a month ago we had a report of a load of pigeons being shot near to the Red Bridge.

"Unfortunately, this has continued and it looks like they have shot ducks, a cat and other animals.

"Our volunteer bailiffs have come across these animals and we have put appeals out on Facebook and reported them to the police.

"Whoever has been doing this has obviously been coming down quite often.

"This is not the first time this has happened, there have been reports in the past of swans and other things being shot.

"We are all keeping our eyes open and are asking anyone who sees anything suspicious around the canal to report it straight away."

The anglers carry our regular work to clean up the canal, fighting against fly-tipping and pollution.

Mr Owen added: "We have worked very hard to improve the canal area and we will continue to do so.

"The fly-tipping situation is still very bad and the situation becomes even worse when you have things like this happening."

If you have any information relating to the killings, call police on 101.